VP, Store Design & Visual Merchandising

Westman Atelier•New York, NY

About The Position

Westman Atelier is a clean luxury beauty brand founded by editorial makeup artist Gucci Westman. The brand focuses on high-performance, skin-loving makeup with a skincare approach, using clean ingredients and advanced science. Gucci Westman brings over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, contributing to major publications and known for creating a natural, glowing look. The VP, Store Design & Visual Merchandising will be responsible for merging commercial goals with brand desirability and presence. This role requires a blend of creativity and operational expertise, leading concept development for stores and merchandising to ensure a cohesive, high-touch, and saleable experience that reflects the brand's ethos across all consumer touchpoints. The position reports to the CMO.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Store Design, Visual Merchandising or related creative field; Master’s preferred.
10-15 years of demonstrated work experience in the luxury/beauty industry
5+ years of demonstrated work experience managing teams, building a culture of accountability
Proven experience managing design & VM operations across multiple global regions (US, EMEA, APAC)
Demonstrated success in building and scaling high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams. Ability to foster a culture of accountability, mentorship, and creative excellence.
Proven track record of managing multi-million dollar capex budgets, including vendor contract negotiation, value engineering and project forecasting
Demonstrated ability to partner with Sales and Finance teams to translate retail performance data into design strategies that drive conversion and traffic.
Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence C-suite leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
Expert ability to direct and curate the brand’s visual identity across 360-degree environments.
Deep understanding of architectural and regulatory standards
A visionary approach to integrating retail technology and sustainability into store design without compromising the luxury aesthetic.
Demonstrated experience with drafting and structural techniques, engineering, drawing, CAD/graphics, and reading of comprehensive shop drawings
Ability to lead multiple global projects across disciplines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
Ability to travel as required

Responsibilities

Evolve and document Westman Atelier’s physical footprint in collaboration with relevant cross-functional partners, including Founder, CMO and Head of Sales, ensuring every touchpoint across installations marries shoppability with high-touch luxury aesthetic.
Partner with regions to ensure global brand guidelines and quality standards are executed in a way that protects Westman Atelier’s prestige positioning while allowing for local market nuances.
Partner closely with the Creative & Content teams to design immersive, cohesive consumer journeys that seamlessly translate online brand stories into tangible in-store experiences.
Design and develop fixtures and modular merchandising systems tailored to revenue objectives. Ensure all installations are optimized for up-selling, high-traffic engagement, increased conversion rates, and profitability.
Partner with Brand Marketing on high impact print and physical activations such as mailers, collateral, and IRL eventing.
Conduct quarterly competitive analysis across VM types to ensure we stay ahead of the landscape.
Curate and optimize a database of global suppliers and production partners. Focus on maintaining high-quality manufacturing while utilizing value-engineering to ensure scalability and cost-efficiency.
Manage overall budget and project forecasting. Partner with finance and sales teams on annual budget, reforecasts and to ensure design initiatives are aligned with P & L goals.
Lead and mentor a high-performing global team across store design, VM, and project management. Foster a culture of creativity, agility, flexibility, and cross-functional collaboration.
Partner closely with product marketing and events and education to create a brand right toolkit for evergreen and tier a launches.
Partner closely with Sales to understand store-specific performance data and traffic patterns, adjusting VM and design strategies to maximize the productivity of every square foot.
Establish an agile design framework that allows the team to pivot quickly in response to shifting global retail landscapes, supply chain disruptions, or localized market opportunities.
Standardize the project management lifecycle for all installations, ensuring clear communication, streamlined workflows, and accountability across all global regional partners.